Health Care Reform Debate-Megathread

[the4thpip]

The German system covers dentistry, but certain things like dentures come with high co-payments, while with other procedures (fillings, mostly), you only get the cheapest version covered. The co-payments get reduced if you can prove that you got your (free) annual checkup for extended periods of time.

[dupont2005]

The wait can be forever. It really is a matter of luck or money.

Well, here it's just a matter of money. So at least you also have that luck option. Maybe I'd go ahead and buy a new crown if I hadn't been paying over $200 a month in prescriptions and doctor visits for the past year.

[Paradox]

Run down and check across the border, dupont. Mexican dentists are a lot cheaper.

That's assuming you have a ride. Commercial transportation would probably eat up the difference.

[dupont2005]

Run down and check across the border, dupont. Mexican dentists are a lot cheaper.

That's assuming you have a ride. Commercial transportation would probably eat up the difference.

I don't think I can cross that border anymore

I'll get around to it. I'm just saying, having some chance at free dentistry is not "just as bad" as having absolutely zero chance at free dentistry.

[king mob]

Well, here it's just a matter of money. So at least you also have that luck option. Maybe I'd go ahead and buy a new crown if I hadn't been paying over $200 a month in prescriptions and doctor visits for the past year.

That's one thing we don't have yet. It doesn't cost us to visit a GP, or hospital or a walk-in centre or anything like that. However the dental problem is a huge one, but one that's never going to be solved unless someone decides to break a very tidy racket for a number of private dentists across the UK.

[Iangould]

Americans, want to know why your health costs are so high?

Because of shit like this:

It may come as a surprise to you that brand-name pharmaceutical companies have been paying generic-drug makers large sums to keep low-cost products off the market. The Federal Trade Commission for years has tried to have the payments declared anti-competitive -- and thus illegal -- but federal courts haven’t gone along.

Until today. The U.S. Supreme Court handed the FTC a major victory by ruling 5-3 that such pay-to-delay arrangements can run afoul of antitrust laws.

This should have been a no-brainer for any court, especially considering the amount of money involved. An FTC study concluded in 2010 that pay-to-delay costs consumers $3.5 billion a year in higher drug prices.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...y-ruling-.html

[Michael P]

Americans, want to know why your health costs are so high?

Because of shit like this:



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...y-ruling-.html

5-3? Who recused?

[Charles RB]

That needed a court ruling to be found illegal?!

[Iangould]

5-3? Who recused?

Justice Alito.

[CaptCleghorn]

Americans, want to know why your health costs are so high?

Because of shit like this:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...y-ruling-.html

Just one of many reasons, actually. The FTC study number translates to less than $1/month for each American's prescription costs.